Jim Sedor, Author | State & Fed

January 29, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Kansas: “Kansas Bill Targets Crypto’s Shadowy Path into Campaign Coffers” by Andrew Cain for WebProNews Ethics Minnesota: “Man Arrested After Spraying Unknown Substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis Town Hall” by Laura Bargfeld and Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated […]

January 28, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Washington: “Bipartisan Campaign Finance Bill Drafted by Sen. Wilson Makes Quick Trip Through Committee” by Jacob Moore (Centralia Chronicle) for Yahoo News Elections Washington DC: “Jack Evans, Who Left D.C. Council Amid Scandal, to Run for Chairman” by […]

January 27, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maryland: “Maryland Launches New Tools to Make Campaign Finance Easier to Access” by Janis Reeser (Hagerstown Daily-Mail) for Yahoo News National: “Political Ad Spending Is Projected to Reach a New High in 2026 Midterms” by Carolyn Neugarten for […]

January 26, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Agency Sues Vendor Over Ethics Reporting System Debacle” by Barbara Hoberock (Oklahoma Voice) for Yahoo News Elections Georgia: “Raffensperger Rebuffs Pressure Campaign to Hand Over Sensitive Voter Data to Feds” by Maya Homan (Georgia Recorder) for […]

January 23, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – January 23, 2026

National/Federal Journalists Confront New Reality in Reporting After FBI Raid MSN – Sarah Ellison, Patrick Marley, and Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) | Published: 1/15/2026 After the FBI searched a Washington Post reporter’s home, journalists from multiple outlets said they moved […]

National/Federal

Journalists Confront New Reality in Reporting After FBI Raid

MSN – Sarah Ellison, Patrick Marley, and Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) | Published: 1/15/2026

After the FBI searched a Washington Post reporter’s home, journalists from multiple outlets said they moved swiftly to secure their phones and laptops, reassure confidential sources and consult newsroom leaders as they worried about the federal government’s seizure of devices containing sensitive information. Many journalists said they saw the FBI raid as a jarring new step aimed at limiting news organizations’ ability to gather information the government does not want to be made public.

Recent Trump Investments Reignite Concerns Around Potential Conflicts of Interest

MSN – Auzinea Bacon (CNN) | Published: 1/17/2026

President Trump purchased up to $2 million in Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery investments days after the announcement of a megadeal between the two media giants, among other purchases, according to a financial disclosure from the White House, renewing questions from ethics experts around potential conflicts-of-interest. A White House official said Trump’s stock and bond portfolio is independently managed by third-party financial institutions.

How EPA Ethics Officials Cleared Former Industry Insiders for Regulatory Roles

MSN – Amudalat Ajasa (Washington Post) | Published: 1/19/2026

Environmental Protection Agency ethics officials have interpreted impartiality guidelines in a way that has allowed several former industry insiders to oversee dramatic changes to chemical regulations, documents show. Those ethics decisions have cleared the way for a former agriculture lobbyist to help reinstate a pesticide that had been banned twice by federal courts, as well as for two former chemical industry executives to help reassess the agency’s stance on the dangers of formaldehyde.

Trump Administration Backs Labor Secretary Facing Misconduct Probe

MSN – Meryl Kornfield and Lauren Kaori Gurley (Washington Post) | Published: 1/19/2026

The Trump administration is rallying around Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer as she faces professional misconduct allegations that led to the suspension of two of her top aides. The aides were named in a complaint to the agency’s inspector general alleging they scheduled personal travel during what were supposed to be official, taxpayer-funded trips, according to a report in the New York Post. Chavez-DeRemer was also accused of having an affair with a staffer and drinking in her office during the workday, the newspaper reported.

Trump’s Pardons Forgive Financial Crimes That Came with Hundreds of Millions in Punishments

MSN – Owen Auston-Babcock (NBC News) | Published: 1/20/2026

Just one year into his second term, President Trump has pardoned an unusually high number of wealthy people accused of financial crimes, according to an NBC News analysis of the last four administrations. Over half of Trump’s 88 individual pardons are for white-collar offenses, with money laundering, bank fraud, and wire fraud among the most frequent crimes. The 87 people and one corporation pardoned by Trump in the last year had been ordered to pay more than $298 million in fines and restitution, vastly more than the totals previously owed by those who received pardons during recent Democratic administrations.

‘No Longer in My Hands’: How Hill Republicans stopped caring about DOJ releasing the Epstein files

MSN – Hailey Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 1/19/2026

One month after the congressionally mandated deadline to release all its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Justice Department has made only a fraction of the files public, and it remains silent on its plans to fully comply with the law. Also keeping quiet about the delays are congressional Republicans, almost all of whom voted in November to release the records after spending months heeding President Trump’s opposition to the move. Some of them are openly admitting it is no longer a priority.

Trump to Pardon Ex-Puerto Rico Governor Vázquez in Campaign Finance Case, Official Says

MSN – Darlene Superville (Associated Press) | Published: 1/16/2026

President Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez. She pleaded guilty last August to a campaign finance violation in a federal case that authorities say also involved a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker. Federal prosecutors had been seeking one year behind bars, something that Vázquez’s attorneys opposed as they accused prosecutors of violating a guilty plea deal reached last year that saw previous charges including bribery and fraud dropped.

Trump Administration Concedes DOGE Team May Have Misused Social Security Data

MSN – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 1/20/2026

Two members of Elon Musk’s DOGE team working at the Social Security Administration (SSA) were secretly in touch with an advocacy group seeking to “overturn election results in certain states,” and one signed an agreement that may have involved using Social Security data to match state voter rolls, the Justice Department revealed in court papers. The SSA referred both DOGE employees for potential violations of the Hatch Act, which bars government employees from using their official positions for political purposes.

Supreme Court Appears Likely to Allow Lisa Cook to Remain on Fed Board

MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Andrew Ackerman (Washington Post) | Published: 1/21/2026

The Supreme Court appeared likely to block President Trump from immediately firing Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve board, a move that would prevent Trump from exerting greater influence over the central bank that guides the economy. Nearly all the justices asked skeptical questions of Solicitor General D. John Sauer during roughly two hours of arguments, taking issue with most aspects of the government’s case that the president had met the legal bar to remove Cook while a lawsuit challenging her removal plays out.

FCC Targets Talk Shows by Revisiting ‘Equal Time’ Rule for Political Candidates

MSN – Kelly Kasulis Cho and Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 1/22/2026

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said network talk shows are required to give equal airtime to all candidates intending to run for the same public office, changing course on a decades-old ruling and raising free speech concerns. The “equal time” rule provides exemptions for “bona fide” news programs or interviews. In 2006, the FCC determined the “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” qualified for the exemption, distinguishing it from an entertainment program and setting a precedent followed by other talk shows. But the FEC said TV networks could not rely on that decision as a blanket ruling and would have to apply for exemptions for individual programs.

Smith Defends His Trump Investigations at a Public Hearing, Saying, ‘No One Should Be Above the Law’

MSN – Eric Tucker, Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro, and Alanna Durkin Richer (Associated Press) | Published: 1/22/2026

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations of Donald Trump at a congressional hearing in which he insisted he had acted without regard to politics and had no second thoughts about the criminal charges he brought. Smith testified behind closed doors in December but returned to the House Judiciary Committee for a public hearing, his first since leaving the job last year. The hearing split along partisan lines as Republican lawmakers sought to undermine the former Justice Department official as Democrats hoped to elicit new and damaging testimony about Trump’s conduct.

Lobbying Revenues Soared in Trump’s First Year, Breaking Records for Top Firms

Reuters – David Thomas | Published: 1/21/2026

President Donald Trump’s tax-and-spend legislation, a six-week federal government shutdown, and executive actions on trade, healthcare, and other policies helped make 2025 a record-breaking year for federal lobbying revenue for several top U.S. firms. It was an especially big year for Ballard Partners. The firm said it grew its lobbying revenue by 300 percent in 2025 to $88.3 million. The previous single-year record for an individual firm was $67.8 million, according to OpenSecrets.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Feds Argue Corruption Case Against Sheng Thao Built on ‘Significant’ Evidence

Oaklandside – Eli Wolfe | Published: 1/20/2026

The federal government says it had ample evidence to pursue its case against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three other defendants without relying heavily on the testimony of an informant with a checkered history. This is one of the big takeaways from a motion prosecutors filed in the case against Thao, her romantic partner Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong of California Waste Solutions. The prosecutors’ latest filing sets the stage for the first major hearing in March in the sprawling Oakland corruption case, which erupted into public view with raids of Thao, Jones, and the Duongs’ homes.

Florida – Donors Gave Big to DeSantis’ Marijuana Campaign After Getting $10M from Hope Florida

MSN – Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) | Published: 1/19/2026

Weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration steered $10 million from a legal Medicaid settlement to a charity spearheaded by the state’s first lady, the Hope Florida Foundation gave $5 million apiece to two separate organizations that gave millions of dollars to a political committee waging an anti-marijuana campaign championed by the governor. The payments raised questions about whether the administration diverted Medicaid dollars through Casey DeSantis’s key initiative to a political campaign.

Hawaii – Hawai’I Attorney General to Investigate $35K Bribery Case After All

Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 1/20/2026

The Hawaii attorney general reversed course recently, announcing she will take up the case of a state lawmaker who was recorded accepting $35,000 in a paper bag from the subject of a bribery investigation in 2022. Public scrutiny has grown since the Honolulu Civil Beat revealed the monetary handoff’s existence last year. Questions have been raised about whether it was a bribe, an unreported gift, or a campaign contribution – which would be a state crime – or legal campaign cash bundling, typically arranged to curry favor with politicians.

Illinois – New Melissa Conyears-Ervin Ad in Illinois’ 7th District Race Highlights Federal Campaign Spending Loophole

Yahoo News – Rick Pearson (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/21/2026

Generally, candidates for federal office are prohibited from using state campaign funds because state fundraising rules and contribution limits are much looser than federal restrictions. But in seeking a seat in Congress and a position on the State Central Committee, both from Illinois’ Seventh Congressional District, Melissa Conyears-Ervin is taking advantage of a loophole in federal campaign finance law that allows her to use state campaign money for commercials ostensibly promoting her campaign for state central committee but that also tout her run for Congress.

Maryland – Baltimore City Councilman Joined Board of Taxpayer-Funded Nonprofit He Wrote a Bill On

WBFF – Patrick Hauf (Spotlight on Maryland) | Published: 1/19/2026

Baltimore City Councilperson Mark Parker joined the board of a taxpayer-funded nonprofit the same month he drafted legislation to regulate that organization, a move that watchdogs say raises conflict-of-interest concerns as the nonprofit faces mounting scrutiny over how it spends millions of dollars in public money. Parker was added to the board of the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund in September as he introduced legislation to tighten oversight of the nonprofit, which is guaranteed $16 million in city taxpayer funding this fiscal year.

Massachusetts – Who’s Paying for the 2026 Ballot Questions? Mass. Senate Passes a Bill Requiring More Transparency

MSN – John Micek (MassLive) | Published: 1/16/2026

With a record number of proposals likely headed to the 2026 ballot, the Massachusetts Senate united behind a bill proposing more public reporting on ballot question fundraising and spending. But the chamber opted against forcing similar disclosure at the local level. Lawmakers unanimously approved legislation expanding disclosure rules for ballot question campaigns in a bid to reveal a steadier flow of information about funding sources.

Minnesota – Justice Dept. Enters New Territory with Probe of Minnesota Officials

MSN – Patrick Marley and Yasmeen Abutaleb (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2026

President Trump’s Justice Department crossed a new threshold with its criminal investigation of top Democratic elected officials in Minnesota, targeting vocal critics during a moment of crisis in which protesters and federal agents are clashing on the city’s streets. Subpoenas the Justice Department is preparing to send suggest the agency is looking at whether Gov. Tim Walz’s and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s public statements about the administration’s actions amount to illegal interference with law enforcement.

Minnesota – ICE Targeted Off-Duty Police Officers in Twin Cities, Local Police Say

MSN – Frances Vinall (Washington Post) | Published: 1/21/2026

Local law enforcement leaders in Minneapolis and St. Paul are raising concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents violating U.S. citizens’ civil rights, including those of off-duty police officers. Mark Bruley, police chief of suburban Brooklyn Park, said an off-duty police officer had been “boxed … in” by vehicles driven by ICE agents, who demanded with guns drawn to see paperwork proving the officer had a right to be in the country. “She’s a U.S. citizen, and clearly would not have any paperwork,” he said. All the off-duty officers who had been targeted by ICE in his city were people of color, Bruley said.

Minnesota – Exclusive: Justice Department leadership pushed FBI to investigate campaign contributions to Minnesota officials

MSN – Katelyn Polantz, Evan Perez, and David Wright (CNN) | Published: 1/20/2026

Top Justice Department officials pushed the FBI to investigate political campaigns in Minnesota over whether they illegally benefited from fraud in public service organizations. Some of the Justice Department’s interest, according to one of the sources, comes from a Washington Examiner report that said Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, and other state politicians received campaign donations from people implicated in the Minnesota public benefits fraud scheme and community care providers.

Minnesota – Judge Limits ICE’s Crowd Control Tactics Following Minneapolis Shooting

Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney, Hassan Ali Kanu, and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 1/16/2026

A federal judge barred federal agents in Minneapolis from arresting peaceful protesters or using nonlethal munitions and crowd control tools against them. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Kate Menendez lands amid an increasingly confrontational dynamic between the Trump administration and Minnesota officials who have accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of stoking fear and violence on local streets. It comes a week after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good.

Mississippi – MS Secretary of State Sets Sights on Campaign Finance Transparency

MSN – Bea Anhuci (Mississippi Clarion Ledger) | Published: 1/21/2026

Secretary of State Michael Watson has been proposing a campaign finance database for years. Now, as corruption scandals unfurl into investigations and trials throughout Mississippi, he thinks he has the support to enact his vision into law. The proposed system would require all candidates to digitally file their campaign finance information. The bill, developed with Sen. Jeremy England, would also restrict cash donation amounts, among other reforms.

Missouri – Bill Would Ban Missouri Politicians from Using Recurring Donations to Fund Campaigns

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 1/13/2026

Missouri politicians would not be able to lure donors into recurring contributions with emotional appeals that do not disclose who would benefit from the money under a bill heard in committee. State Rep. Jim Murphy said the scheme leaves contributors, who are often elderly people, confused when thousands of dollars are drawn from their accounts months, or years, after they respond to a fundraising email or text.

Nebraska – Auditor Flags Possible Pillen ‘Favoritism’ in $2.5M No-Bid Bioeconomy Contract with Lobbyist

Yahoo News – Aaron Sanderford (Nebraska Examiner) | Published: 1/15/2026

Gov. Jim Pillen, while pressing the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in 2024 to tighten its belt, steered the state agency to award a $2.5 million no-bid emergency contract to a bioeconomy consultant and lobbyist he knew and had traveled with as part of state delegations. Auditor Mike Foley alleges the Economic Development Department, in carrying out that Pillen-picked contract, broke state law by not specifying in writing what emergency justified skipping the required step of bidding out contracts worth more than $50,000.

New York – Judge Strikes Down Republican Congressional District in New York

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 1/21/2026

A New York judge ordered state officials to redraw the congressional district held by Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, handing Democrats a likely victory amid a nationwide political brawl over congressional lines. State Judge Jeffrey Pearlman concluded Malliotakis’s Staten Island-based district violates a provision of the state constitution that bars the abridgment of voting rights for racial minorities. An appeal is expected, and Malliotakis said she is confident the existing lines will ultimately be upheld.

New York – Gov. Kathy Hochul Hasn’t Released Her Meeting Logs in 15 Months

MSN – Chris Bragg (New York Focus) | Published: 1/20/2026

When New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ran for a full term in 2022, she released her schedule of meetings on a rolling basis, usually several months after they occurred. The schedules indicated that Hochul’s record-breaking campaign fundraising was fueled by constant meetings with donors. As Hochul runs for a second full term this year, the public no longer has that view into how she is spending her time. That is because the most recent schedules her office has released are from September 2024, more than 15 months ago.

Oklahoma – Former Oklahoma Mental Health Department Official Settles with Ethics Commission

Yahoo News – Emma Murphy (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 1/15/2026

The former deputy director of the state’s mental health department settled with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and will pay $2,500 for violating lobbyist registration and reporting law. Heath Hayes communicated with state officials “for the purpose of influencing governmental action” without being registered as a lobbyist, according to a statement from Lee Anne Bruce Boone, executive director of the Ethics Commission.

South Dakota – Donations to SD Campaigns from Foreign Nationals Would Be Banned by Bill Sent to State Senate

Yahoo News – Joshua Haiar (South Dakota Searchlight) | Published: 1/21/2026

South Dakota lawmakers advanced a bill that would bar candidates and political committees from taking campaign contributions or loans from a foreign national. Under the draft, accepting a contribution from any of the listed entities would be moved to a more severe class of misdemeanor, and a subsequent offense within a calendar year would change from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Texas – After a Hard-Fought Campaign, Austin Neighborhood Elects a Canine Mayor

MSN – Sydney Page (Washington Post) | Published: 1/22/2026

On a January night on Austin’s 37th Street, neighbors gathered to count the final ballots and swear in a new mayor. The mayor-elect did not give an acceptance speech – instead, he barked. Mo Bamba, a pug-chihuahua mix, was sworn in as the new mayor of 37th Street, following the neighborhood’s fourth annual pet election that drew more than 12,000 votes. The annual pet election began as a playful neighborhood tradition four years ago, designed to draw attention to Austin’s upcoming human mayoral runoff election amid a season of notably low voter turnout.

Virginia – Lindsey Halligan Out as U.S. Attorney Following Pressure from Judges

MSN – Steve Thompson, Salvador Rizzo, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 1/20/2026

Lindsey Halligan, a Trump administration lawyer who was named head of a key U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia last year with instructions to seek criminal charges against President Trump’s perceived political adversaries, left her post at the Justice Department. Halligan’s departure followed moves by two federal judges who issued court orders hours earlier saying they intended to replace Halligan at the helm of the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia and threatening disciplinary sanctions for any government lawyer who continued to refer to her as U.S. attorney in legal filings.

Washington – Prominent Seattle Lobbying Firm Defaults on Debts, Ousts Founder

Seattle Times – Jim Brunner | Published: 1/19/2026

A prominent Seattle lobbying firm ousted its well-known founder, laid off much of its staff, and is under new ownership after defaulting on millions of dollars in debt under a bankruptcy restructuring plan. The sale of Strategies 360 caps a public fall for a once-dominant firm and its founder Ron Dotzauer, a consultant with ties to top Washington politicians.

January 22, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “Trump to Pardon Ex-Puerto Rico Governor Vázquez in Campaign Finance Case, Official Says” by Darlene Superville (Associated Press) for MSN Illinois: “New Melissa Conyears-Ervin Ad in Illinois’ 7th District Race Highlights Federal Campaign Spending Loophole” by Rick […]

January 21, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Florida: “Donors Gave Big to DeSantis’ Marijuana Campaign After Getting $10M from Hope Florida” by Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) for MSN Missouri: “Bill Would Ban Missouri Politicians from Using Recurring Donations to Fund Campaigns” by […]

January 20, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “Who’s Paying for the 2026 Ballot Questions? Mass. Senate Passes a Bill Requiring More Transparency” by John Micek (MassLive) for MSN Ethics National: “Recent Trump Investments Reignite Concerns Around Potential Conflicts of Interest” by Auzinea Bacon (CNN) […]

January 16, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – January 16, 2026

National/Federal Judge Grills Feds Over ICE Rule Blocking Lawmakers from Surprise Oversight Visits Courthouse News Service – Ryan Knappenberger | Published: 1/14/2026 A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to explain whether it was unlawfully using congressionally appropriated funds to […]

National/Federal

Judge Grills Feds Over ICE Rule Blocking Lawmakers from Surprise Oversight Visits

Courthouse News Service – Ryan Knappenberger | Published: 1/14/2026

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to explain whether it was unlawfully using congressionally appropriated funds to block members of Congress from conducting surprise oversight visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. In December, U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb ruled that a new set of ICE policies requiring lawmakers to provide notice of such visits seven days in advance was likely unlawful and beyond the Department of Homeland Security’s authority, freezing the policies for the time being.

ICE and Activists Clash Over Doxing and Privacy, in Court and Streets

MSN – Joseph Menn (Washington Post) | Published: 1/15/2026

As immigration agents and protesters clash in the streets, a parallel battle is unfolding over sensitive data used to identify and hold those on the other side to account. Government officers are using new tools featuring real-time location data and license-plate tracking to investigate protesters. Activists are using burner phones and donated dash cams to counter those efforts, recording masked agents and compiling lists of names and badge numbers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The government has charged activists under criminal statutes and tried to compel online platforms to reveal the identities of activists using their sites.

FBI Executes Search Warrant at Washington Post Reporter’s Home

MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 1/14/2026

The FBI executed a search warrant at a Washington Post reporter’s home as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials. The reporter, Hannah Natanson, was at her home at the time of the search. Federal agents searched her home and her devices, seizing her phone, two laptops, and a Garmin watch. Federal regulations intended to protect a free press are designed to make it difficult to use aggressive law enforcement tactics against reporters to obtain the identities of their sources or information.

Trump Makes Obscene Gesture, Mouths Expletive at Detroit Factory Heckler

MSN – Natalie Allison and Dan Merica (Washington Post) | Published: 1/13/2026

President Trump made an obscene gesture with his middle finger and mouthed an expletive to a factory employee who shouted at him during a tour of a Ford plant in Michigan, a reaction the White House said was “appropriate” given the heckling. Out of frame in a cellphone video, a person can be heard yelling “pedophile protector” just before Trump mouthed the insult, an apparent reference to the Trump administration’s handling of the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Commerce Seeks to Strike ‘Redundant,’ ‘Obsolete’ Provisions from Lobbying Regs

MSN – Graham Thompson (The Well News) | Published: 1/14/2026

The Commerce Department wants to amend its regulations governing restrictions on lobbying, specifically to remove “redundant, obsolete and inefficient provisions.” The regulation slated for the changes is the decades-old 15 CFR Part 28, a set of rules that implemented government-wide restrictions on the use of appropriated funds for lobbying activities in connection with federal contracts, grants, loans, and cooperative agreements.

Washington’s New Lobbyists: Paid online influencers with few rules

MSN – Maggie Severns, Natalie Andrews, Josh Dawsey, and Eliza Collins (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 1/11/2026

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has transformed the federal government and upended the business of lobbying, creating a new class of Washington operatives that blur the lines between consulting, advocacy, and journalism. Corporate and foreign interests that used to rely primarily on paid lobbyists to pitch their case to lawmakers and administration officials are instead pouring money into trying to get their cause promoted by a group of young, conservative influencers known to be close to Trump’s staff.

Sen. Mark Kelly Sues Hegseth Over Censure, Potential Demotion

MSN – Noah Robertson and Tara Copp (Washington Post) | Published: 1/12/2026

Sen. Mark Kelly filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s letter of censure and effort to potentially demote the retired Navy officer, escalating a confrontation over a video reminding U.S. service members they can refuse illegal orders. Kelly’s lawyers argued the Pentagon’s inquiry and formal reprimand, unlawfully punished the senator for his speech and violated his due process.

House Votes to Subpoena Journalist Over Report on Delta Force Commander

MSN – Scott Nover and Kadia Goba (Washington Post) | Published: 1/8/2026

A House Oversight Committee vote to subpoena journalist Seth Harp over his reporting on the U.S. military operation in Venezuela has raised concerns among press freedom watchers, who say the action disregards First Amendment guarantees. The day after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Harp shared on X a photograph and biography of a military officer he identified as the commander of the Army’s Delta Force unit, which played a central role in the Caracas operation. Harp later wrote on X that the social media site locked his account until he deleted the post.

Smithsonian Removes Trump Impeachment Text as It Swaps His Portrait

MSN – Samantha Chery, Janay Kingsberry, and Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) | Published: 1/10/2026

The National Portrait Gallery removed a swath of text that mentioned President Trump’s two impeachments and the insurrection at the Capitol as it swapped out a prominent photo of him. It replaced a photo accompanied by a longer caption recounting Trump’s first term and his reelection. “Impeached twice, on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, he was acquitted by the Senate in both trials,” it read in part.

Justice Department Opens a Criminal Investigation of Fed Chair

MSN – Andrew Ackerman and Salvador Rizzo (Washington Post) | Published: 1/11/2026

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Board Chairperson Jerome Powell, tied to the renovation of the Fed’s headquarters along the National Mall. Powell accused the Justice Department of using the threat of criminal prosecution to pressure the central bank to lower interest rates, describing newly issued grand jury subpoenas as an unprecedented challenge to the Fed’s independence.

Virginia and Maryland at Center of Congressional Redistricting Battle

MSN – Erin Cox, Teo Armus, and Katie Shepherd (Washington Post) | Published: 1/13/2026

In what could be Democrats’ last wave of mid-cycle redistricting, the Virginia and Maryland Legislatures will each convene with national party leaders pushing them to redraw congressional maps and net as many as five seats to help build an advantage ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats in both states will hold majorities and the governor’s seat as debate unfolds, and they have been heavily lobbied for months to press for as many seats as possible, efforts that have had mixed results.

Top Prosecutors in DC., Minneapolis Leave Amid Turmoil Over Shooting Probe

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 1/13/2026

Multiple senior prosecutors in the District of Columbia and Minnesota are leaving their jobs amid turmoil over the Trump administration’s handling of the shooting death of a Minneapolis woman. The departures include at least five prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Minneapolis, including the office’s second-in-command. The Minnesota resignations followed demands by Justice Department leaders to investigate the widow of Renée Good, the woman killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot into her car.

These Prosecutors Spent Years on Cases. Then Trump Granted Pardons.

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 1/14/2026

White-collar and public corruption cases are among the most resource-intensive for the Justice Department to pursue. Prosecutors, FBI agents, and other specialists often work for years to build such cases, following money trails and interviewing scores of witnesses before they even file an indictment. More than half a dozen experienced prosecutors said Trump’s clemency acts have eroded faith among current and former Justice Department employees that the cases they devote years to prosecuting will lead to accountability.

Trump Is Trying to Change How the Midterm Elections Are Conducted

MSN – Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 1/12/2026

President Trump, fearful that a Congress controlled by Democrats could investigate him, impeach him, and stymie his agenda, is using every tool he can find to try to influence the 2026 midterm elections. Many of these endeavors go far beyond typical political persuasion, challenging long-established democratic norms. They include demands that Republican state lawmakers redraw congressional districts before the constitutionally required 10-year schedule, the prosecution of political opponents, a push to toughen voter registration rules, and attempts to end the use of voting machines and mail ballots.

Trump’s ‘Superstar’ Appellate Judges Have Voted 133-12 in His Favor

Seattle Times – Mattathias Schwartz and Emma Schartz (New York Times) | Published: 1/11/2026

President Trump has found a powerful but obscure bulwark in the appeals court judges he appointed during his first term. They have voted overwhelmingly in his favor when his administration’s actions have been challenged in court in his current term, an analysis of their 2025 records shows. Appellate judges chosen by Trump in his first term repeatedly reversed rulings made by District Court judges in his second, clearing the way for his policies and gradually eroding a perception early last year that the legal system was thwarting his efforts to amass presidential power.

Several of Kennedy’s Dietary Advisers Have Ties to Meat and Dairy Interests

Seattle Times – Alice Callahan and Maggie Astor (New York Times) | Published: 1/11/2026

Soon after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as the nation’s health secretary, he promised to overhaul the federal nutrition guidelines. A key step, he said, would be to “toss out the people who were writing the guidelines with conflicts-of-interest.” His own panel, he said, would “have no conflicts-of-interest.” But the new guidelines, which emphasize protein, meat, cheese, and milk, were informed by a panel of experts with several ties to the meat and dairy industries.

From the States and Municipalities

California – No Campaign? No Problem. Inside California Political Elites’ Shadowy Spending

MSN – Nicole Nixon and Kate Wolffe (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 1/11/2026

The indictment of Dana Williamson, a former top aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom, opened a window to Sacramento’s campaign finance ecosystem, showing the ways that lawmakers, lobbyists, consultants, and interest groups use accounts to trade money, time, and access. A review of more than 100 accounts and lobbying records reveals how two types of accounts in particular – ballot measure committees and campaign accounts held by ex-lawmakers – are commonly used to shore up political connections and help elected officials live large, while spending little, if anything, on campaigns those accounts were ostensibly designed to support.

California – Federal Judges Allow California to Use New US House Map Ahead of 2026 Election

MSN – Trân Nguyễn (Associated Press) | Published: 1/14/2026

California can use a new voter-approved U.S. House map that is designed to boost Democrats in the 2026 midterms, a federal three-judge panel ruled. The complaint accused California of violating the Constitution by using race as a factor to favor Hispanic voters when drawing the new district lines. The map, aimed at giving Democrats a shot at flipping as many as five House seats next year, was decisively approved by voters through Proposition 50 in November.

Colorado – Opportunity Caucus Lawmakers, in Response to Ethics Complaints, Say They Didn’t Violate Gift Ban by Attending $32,000 Vail Retreat

Colorado Sun – Taylor Dolven | Published: 1/9/2026

A group of state lawmakers say they did not violate Colorado’s gift ban when they attended a retreat at a ritzy hotel in Vail in October with lobbyists but still will not say where they got the money to pay for legislators’ hotel rooms, food, and drinks, totaling $32,000. In response to complaints against the lawmakers filed with the Independent Ethics Commission, the lawmakers say they are in the clear because their caucus covered the $32,671.15 tab with money given to the group.

Colorado – Colorado Appeals Panel Skeptical of Sentencing for Former County Clerk Who Breached Election Systems

MSN – Colleen Slevin (Associated Press) | Published: 1/14/2025

A Colorado appeals court panel seemed skeptical that a judge could use former county clerk Tina Peters’ insistence on spreading election conspiracy theories as part of the reason to sentence her to nine years in prison for orchestrating a data breach of election equipment. The three-judge panel was dismissive of many of the arguments made by Peters’ attorneys. But they grilled the state’s lawyer over the trial judge reciting Peters’ false statements about elections in handing down her sentence.

Florida – She Made a Facebook Comment About Her Mayor. Then the Police Arrived.

MSN – Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 1/14/2026

Raquel Pacheco began recording on her phone as she opened her front door to the pair of police officers standing outside. They told her they had questions about a Facebook comment she had written about Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. The now-public tussle over Pacheco’s Facebook comment is another salvo in a battle between activists across the country and authorities whom they accuse of stifling speech about divisive political topics.

Illinois – Supreme Court Says Candidates Can Challenge Vote Counting Rules

Yahoo News – Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 1/14/2026

Candidates for public office can sue in advance over vote counting practices they contend are illegal, the Supreme Court ruled. The justices said U.S. Rep. Rep. Michael Bost of Illinois can proceed with a lawsuit challenging a practice President Trump has long decried: counting ballots received after Election Day.

Indiana – ‘Paid Protester’ Lobbying Bill Advances to Senate Floor with ‘Substantial’ Edits Expected

Yahoo News – Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 1/13/2026

Legislation requiring paid political influencers to report to Indiana lobbying regulators heads to the Senate floor despite major concerns from regulators and First Amendment advocates, and the author’s admission the bill was drafted in a rush. The bill focuses on “influence campaigns,” defined as attempts to mobilize the public to take some action or contact state officials, including via protest.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Says Judge Can Spend Campaign Money on His Role as Mardi Gras Krewe Royalty

MSN – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 1/15/2026

A Jefferson Parish judge who has been chosen king of a Carnival krewe can spend his campaign money to purchase merchandise for his role, according to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. Judge Adrian Adams, who is up for reelection this year, specifically asked if he could use political contributions to purchase cups, beads, and other carnival favors bearing his name and image to be given out at parades and other Mardi Gras festivities.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Might Seek Exemption for Elected Officials to New Privacy Law

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 1/14/2026

The Louisiana Board of Ethics might seek an exemption from a new privacy law that allows current and retired judges, and soon hundreds of other public officials, to remove their personal information from its online records and website. The board’s staff recommended it ask state legislators to write an exception into the statute for documents the board oversees. Lawmakers would have to approve a change to the law, and their legislative session begins March 9.

Louisiana – Landry Can Appoint Three More Members to Ethics Board, Controlling Majority of Panel

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 1/9/2026

Gov. Jeff Landry has the power to appoint three more members to the Louisiana Board of Ethics this year, giving him control over the majority of the entity that enforces campaign finance and government transparency laws. Three of the 15 board members’ terms expired January 1. The governor controls all seats now open to new appointees. He selected five new members last year. Appointing three more would give him a slim majority of eight members.

Michigan – Before Road Funding Deal, Road Builder Money Flowed to Michigan Lawmakers

Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 1/9/2026

Less than two months before Michigan lawmakers finalized a historic deal to pump as much as $2 billion a year into road repairs, a slew of road construction executives whose companies will benefit from the spending opened their checkbooks at an upscale steakhouse in metro Detroit. Those donations more than doubled compared to prior years as House Speaker Mike Hall and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushed for a bipartisan road funding deal, according to an analysis by Bridge Michigan.

Mississippi – FBI Tracked Jackson Leaders Years Before 2023 Sting, Documents Show

Yahoo News – Charlie Drape (Clarion Ledger) | Published: 1/14/2026

The FBI was secretly tracking former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens nearly a year before federal prosecutors said their public corruption case began. The records were made public as part of Owens’ motion to dismiss his 2024 indictment, in which his lawyers attached hundreds of documents, including FBI emails, confidential informant reports, and discovery materials produced by prosecutors. Owens argues the government improperly targeted and entrapped him.

New Mexico – Lawmaker Streamlines Lobbyist Disclosure Bill for Second Try

New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 1/12/2026

New Mexico Rep. Sarah Silva filed a bill that requires lobbyists or their employers to file a report within 48 hours of when they start lobbying on legislation. The reports must identify the specific bill, their position on it, and which employer is paying them to lobby. Because the upcoming legislative session is a short “budget” session, the governor must add the lobbying transparency bill to lawmakers’ agenda in order for them to consider and vote on the measure.

New York – Former Adams Aide Tony Herbert Arrested on Sweeping Federal Bribery Charges

Yahoo News – Molly Crane-Newman, Chris Sommerfeldt, Thomas Tracey, and Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) | Published: 1/13/2026

Tony Herbert, a former official in Mayor Eric Adams’ administration and longtime fixture in New York City politics, was arrested by federal authorities on sweeping public corruption charges alleging he took bribes and kickbacks during his time at City Hall. The indictment alleges he was engaging in public corruption during his stints in Adams’s Community Affairs Unit and as Citywide Public Housing Liaison.

North Carolina – NC Warns Supreme Court Candidate Over ‘Prohibited’ Lobbyist Campaign Donation

MSN – Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 1/13/2026

The North Carolina State Board of Elections sent a warning letter to Rep. Sarah Stevens, the Republican candidate for the state Supreme Court, after she was accused of violating the law by accepting political contributions from two lobbyists. State law prohibits sitting lawmakers from accepting campaign donations from a lobbyist, even though the donation was for Stevens’ judicial campaign.

North Dakota – Financial Disclosures for North Dakota Officials, Candidates Now Available for Free Online

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 1/12/2026

A new website allows members of the public to view the financial interest statements of North Dakota political candidates and other elected or appointed officials. Moving forward, the public will be able to download the forms for free online. State filings previously were maintained as paper records and could only be accessed by submitting a request to the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office, which could involve a fee.

Ohio – Judge Clears Way for Householder’s State Trial in HB 6 Scandal. Yost Has This Warning

MSN – David Gambino (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/8/2026

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder will continue to face state felony charges stemming from the House Bill 6 scandal after a Cuyahoga County judge denied his motion to dismiss the case. Common Pleas Judge Kevin Kelley Householder’s arguments that investigators exceeded their authority, Cuyahoga County was an improper venue, and several charges were time‑barred and should have been filed only as misdemeanor campaign finance offenses.

Oregon – Facing $25M Request, Oregon Lawmakers Again Float Delaying Historic Campaign Finance Law

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 1/13/2026

Multiple Oregon lawmakers of both parties have expressed support for delaying implementation of the state’s law that will limit political contributions and increase transparency. Top officials of the secretary of state’s office have requested $25 million in the upcoming legislative session to keep the implementation of the law on track. But they have said that amount is only a “placeholder” estimate, largely because the agency has not yet hired a contractor to create some of the technological infrastructure required by the law. Without further guidance and additional funding, agency officials have warned the rollout of the law could be botched.

Oregon – Longtime Oregon Lawmaker Admits to Ethics Violation, But Fails to Disclose Business Client

Portland Oregonian – Les Zaitz (Salem Recorder) | Published: 1/9/2026

For the second time in a year, state Rep. Greg Smith has conceded violating Oregon law by not fully disclosing clients of his private consulting company. Smith agreed to a letter of education from the Government Ethics Commission over the violation. That sanction is standard for the commission in matters concerning disclosures.

Rhode Island – Foulkes Wants to Ban Lobbyist Donations During Legislative Sessions

MSN – Patrick Anderson (Providence Journal) | Published: 1/12/2026

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Helena Foulkes is calling on her 2026 election rivals in Rhode Island to renounce donations from lobbyists this year, just as the traditional political fundraising season kicks into high gear. Foulkes says all statewide officeholders and General Assembly members, plus anyone running for those offices, should not be allowed to accept contributions from registered lobbyists during the annual legislative session.

Texas – Fort Bend Rep. Gary Gates Passed a Bill That Helped His Business. Now He’s Suing to Be Sure It Sticks.

MSN – Eric Dexheimer (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 1/14/2026

When state Rep. Gary Gates passed legislation closing an affordable housing loophole that threatened to cost Texas cities hundreds of millions of dollars in lost property tax revenue, he considered the law one of his biggest-ever legislative achievements. Gates owns and manages low-income housing properties. His new law shut the door on controversial local government agencies that had inked hundreds of deals across the state. Developers who profited from the deals challenged the new rules in court. Gates, acting in his private capacity as an affordable-housing landlord, joined the legal battle opposing the developers.

Virginia – Trump Officials Fire High-Ranking Prosecutor in Virginia Amid Turmoil

MSN – Salvador Rizzo, Perry Stein, and Steve Thompson (Washington Post) | Published: 1/12/2026

A veteran prosecutor who was recruited to help run a key U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia was abruptly dismissed after disagreements with the Trump administration. Robert McBride was first assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia for about two months, starting after President Trump and his administration purged the top prosecutors in the office and ordered that criminal charges be filed against two of the president’s perceived political opponents, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Washington – Mayor Katie Wilson Pays Small Fine for Child Care Help During Campaign

Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 1/14/2026

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson paid $250 for failing to report more than $10,000 in payments made by her parents to help with childcare during her 2025 campaign. Because, according to Wilson’s own account, the money was given to allow her more financial flexibility to campaign for office, the payments should have been reported as in-kind contributions, concluded Wayne Barnett, executive director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission.

Washington – Board Finds Reasonable Cause Ferguson Violated Ethics Law

Seattle Times – Jim Brunner | Published: 1/11/2026

The Washington State Executive Ethics Board found “reasonable cause” to believe Gov. Bob Ferguson violated the law by bringing his former top aide onto a state plane last year. The board voted to accept the findings of a staff investigation that found Ferguson illegally “provided a special privilege” to Mike Webb, his longtime former top aide, “by allowing them passage on a state aircraft.” State law generally prohibits the use of state resources for private gain.

January 15, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Elections Illinois: “Supreme Court Says Candidates Can Challenge Vote Counting Rules” by Josh Gerstein (Politico) for Yahoo News National: “Trump Is Trying to Change How the Midterm Elections Are Conducted” by Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for […]

January 14, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance North Carolina: “NC Warns Supreme Court Candidate Over ‘Prohibited’ Lobbyist Campaign Donation” by Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) for MSN Ethics National: “Top Prosecutors in DC., Minneapolis Leave Amid Turmoil Over Shooting Probe” by Perry Stein (Washington […]

January 13, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Michigan: “Before Road Funding Deal, Road Builder Money Flowed to Michigan Lawmakers” by Simon Schuster for Bridge Michigan Ethics National: “Justice Department Opens a Criminal Investigation of Fed Chair” by Andrew Ackerman and Salvador Rizzo (Washington Post) for […]

January 12, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance California: “No Campaign? No Problem. Inside California Political Elites’ Shadowy Spending” by Nicole Nixon and Kate Wolffe (Sacramento Bee) for MSN Oregon: “Oregon Secretary of State Asks for $25M to Implement Historic Campaign Finance Law, Warns Final Price […]

January 9, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – January 9, 2026

National/Federal Capitol Riot ‘Does Not Happen’ Without Trump, Jack Smith Told Congress MSN – Eric Tucker (Associated Press) | Published: 12/31/2025 The January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol “does not happen” without Donald Trump, former special counsel Jack […]

National/Federal

Capitol Riot ‘Does Not Happen’ Without Trump, Jack Smith Told Congress

MSN – Eric Tucker (Associated Press) | Published: 12/31/2025

The January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol “does not happen” without Donald Trump, former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers in characterizing the Republican president as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The House Judiciary Committee released a transcript and video of a closed-door interview Smith gave about two investigations of Trump. It shows how Smith, during a daylong deposition, defended the basis for pursuing indictments against Trump and vigorously rejected Republican suggestions his investigations were politically motivated.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Gutted of Federal Funds, Votes to Dissolve

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 1/5/2026

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s (CPB) board of directors voted to dissolve the organization, ending the 58-year-old agency that distributed federal funds to NPR, PBS, and more than 1,500 local public radio and television stations. The move formalizes the shutdown that began this summer after Republicans in Congress rescinded $1.1 billion in funding at President Trump’s behest. CPB leaders said they chose dissolution over maintaining a dormant organization that could become manipulated by new stewards acting without public media’s best interest at heart.

Hegseth Announces Censure and Potential Demotion of Sen. Mark Kelly

MSN – Dan Lamothe and Tara Copp (Washington Post) | Published: 1/5/2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he formally censured Sen. Mark Kelly and launched administrative proceedings against Kelly to consider whether to reduce his Navy rank in retirement, the latest twist in a dispute about the senator’s political commentary. Hegseth said as a retired Navy officer, Kelly is “still accountable to military justice,” and he repeated unfounded allegations that Kelly has made “seditious statements.” The dispute centers on a video in Kelly and five other Democrats reminded U.S. troops they can disobey illegal orders, infuriating President Donald Trump.

Trump Ends Effort to Keep National Guard in Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland

MSN – Lauren Kaori Gurley and Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 12/25/2025

President Trump announced he is pulling the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, although the troops already had a limited presence because the states involved had sued to block their deployment. Troops remain on the ground in New Orleans and Memphis, with support from state officials, and in the District of Columbia, where the mayor does not have control over the National Guard. The president’s retreat follows the administration’s setbacks in lawsuits aimed at removing the National Guard from cities in blue states.

Hegseth’s Remade Press Corps Covers Venezuela Raid with Praise, Not Probing

MSN – Scott Nover and Drew Harwell (Washington Post) | Published: 1/7/2025

The U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro marks the first major test for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s overhauled Pentagon press corps, a crop of right-wing influencers and media personalities that took over the coverage desks of traditional news organizations, whose journalists surrendered their Pentagon credentials months ago rather than agree to restrictions on their reporting. Mainstream journalists have continued to cover the events from the outside, though some of them say the additional challenges they face in getting answers from government leaders could erode their ability to shed light on the aftermath of Maduro’s capture.

More Than 2 Million Epstein Documents Still Unreleased, Officials Say

MSN – Kelly Kasulis Cho (Washington Post) | Published: 1/6/2026

More than 2 million documents regarding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein remain to be released, Justice Department officials told a federal judge, offering the most precise estimate so far of the size of the file still under review. Those reviewing the unreleased documents must determine whether each one falls under the law’s broad mandate, review the documents to redact information that could identify victims, and respond to requests from victims or their family members for additional redactions. Officials offered similar explanations for a delay in releasing all unclassified Epstein documents n December, after the Justice Department failed to meet its deadline.

Judge Orders Lindsey Halligan to Explain Why She Keeps Using US Attorney Title

MSN – Melissa Quinn (CBS News) | Published: 1/7/2026

A federal judge ordered Lindsey Halligan to explain why she continues to identify herself as a U.S. attorney despite a different judge finding her appointment as the top federal prosecutor in eastern Virginia was invalid. U.S. District Court Judge David Novak gave Halligan seven days to provide the basis for her use of the title and ordered her to explain why her identification as U.S. attorney “does not constitute a false or misleading statement.” U.S. District Court Judge Cameron Currie ruled in November that Halligan’s appointment as interim U.S. attorney violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause and a federal law governing U.S. attorney vacancies

Rep. Steny Hoyer to Retire, Ending Storied Career in Elected Office

MSN – Paul Kane (Washington Post) | Published: 1/7/2026

Rep. Steny Hoyer will not run for reelection and end a nearly six-decade career in elected office that spanned his rising-star days in Maryland government to a two-decade run as the number two U.S. House Democrat. Now three years out of leadership, Hoyer remains an active legislator but feared ending up like many other elderly lawmakers, becoming physically or mentally frail in their final days in office.

The Data Center Rebellion Is Here, and It’s Reshaping the Political Landscape

MSN – Evan Halper (Washington Post) | Published: 1/6/2026

From Archibald, Pennsylvania, to Page, Arizona, technology firms are seeking to build data centers in locations that sometimes are not zoned for such heavy industrial uses, within communities that had not planned for them. These supersize data centers can use more energy than entire cities and drain local water supplies. Anger over the perceived trampling of communities by Silicon Valley has entered the national political conversation and could affect voters of all political persuasions in this year’s midterm elections.

The Supreme Court May Leave Alone the Voting Rights Act Just Long Enough to Keep the GOP from House Control in 2026

MSN – Samuel Benson and Andrew Howard (Politico) | Published: 1/8/2026

It appears Kansas will not join the parade of states engaging in mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, meaning Johnson County will remain in one congressional district. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins told reporters he does not have the votes necessary to pass a new map over the all-but-certain veto of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

How New Protest Laws Are Impacting Political Demonstrations

MSN – Akilah Johnson (Washington Post) | Published: 1/2/2026

More than a dozen states that have cracked down on protests in recent years, passing laws that often equate political demonstrations with riots in ways that First Amendment experts say could be illegal. Since 2017, 23 states have passed at least 55 laws to address how and when people can protest. Some laws mandate at least 30 days in jail for rioting – often loosely defined as a group involved in tumultuous or potentially violent behavior – while others restrict protests on college campuses or imprison and fine people who block sidewalks, streets, and highways.

Mail-In Voting Faces New Hurdle as Postal Service Formalizes Postmark Practice

Yahoo News – Anna Liss-Roy (Washington Post) | Published: 1/3/2026

A change in how the U.S. Postal Service postmarks letters could discount the ballots of thousands of last-minute voters. Many Americans have long assumed that tax returns, ballots, and other mailed documents sent on deadline would be marked as sent the day they are dropped in a mailbox. But the Postal Service announced it was making no such guarantees about postmarks. Its new guidelines say a postmark might come days later, when mail is processed at a regional facility. Fourteen states provide a grace period allowing mail ballots to be counted if they arrive after Election Day if they are postmarked by then.

The Political Divide Over January 6 Is Only Deepening Five Years After the Deadly US Capitol Attack

Yahoo News – Annie Grayer and Marshall Cohen (CNN) | Published: 1/6/2026

Five years after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the fundamental facts of that day continue to fuel deep divisions that have created dueling political realities. The Democratic lawmakers who dedicated 18 months of their careers to the comprehensive House investigation are grappling with how the truth about President Trump’s role can break through in this current political moment, where Trump continues to claim he won the 2020 election and has taken significant steps to reward rioters and deflect blame for the attack.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Ex-Arizona Lawmaker Who Questioned Election Integrity Gets Probation for Using Forged Signatures

MSN – Jacques Billeaud (Associated Press) | Published: 1/6/2026

A former Republican lawmaker who questioned the integrity of Arizona’s elections and served as a leader for the conservative group Turning Point Action was sentenced to probation and a five-year ban on running for public office for using nominating petitions that contained forged signatures in a bid to qualify for a 2024 primary election. Austin Smith acknowledged trying to use petitions with forged signatures that he knew were false and forging a dead woman’s signature on a nominating petition.

Arkansas – Concerns Rise After Governor Appoints 2nd Lobbyist to Arkansas Board of Corrections

MSN – Andrew Mobley (KATV) | Published: 1/7/2026

Recent appointments by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the Arkansas Board of Corrections have drawn scrutiny from a state senator and a Franklin County resident running for Senate District 26, who are concerned that half the appointees work for prominent lobbying firms. State Sen. Bryan King Senate District 26 independent candidate Adam Watson say not only do the governor’s four appointments last year to the seven-member board stack the deck in her favor as she pursues building a 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County, but they also create conflicts-of-interest.

California – SF Official’s ‘Great Betrayal’ Ends in Prison for $600K Theft of City Funds

MSN – Olivia Hebert (SFGATE) | Published: 1/6/2026

A former high-ranking San Francisco city employee was sentenced to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts tied to a yearslong public corruption scheme that siphoned more than $627,000 from the city’s workers’ compensation system. The sentence follows Stanley Ellicott’s arrest in March 2024, when officials announced 62 felony charges tied to the scheme. At the time, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins described the case as a “great betrayal.”

California – SF Accused a Nonprofit of Corruption and Lost. Now the City Is Appealing

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 1/5/2026

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu is not giving up the legal battle he lost against a nonprofit at the center of an ethics scandal over its deep ties to a former city official. Two months after a hearing officer rejected arguments that the nonprofit Collective Impact should be barred from city funding for allegedly bribing former San Francisco Human Rights Commission Executive Director Sheryl Davis, Chiu is appealing the decision.

Connecticut – Connecticut Election Regulators Face First Test of New Foreign Contribution Ban

MSN – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 1/3/2026

A 2024 state law that prohibits foreign nationals from making political contributions or expenditures under Connecticut’s campaign finance laws is posing a novel legal question for in-house lobbyists working for foreign-owned businesses. A lobbyist for the government relations firm Gaffney Bennett and Associates petitioned the State Elections Enforcement Commission for a declaratory ruling clarifying whether state residents who are U.S. citizens and in-house lobbyists on the payroll of corporations owned by foreign parent companies can make personal contributions to Connecticut campaigns.

District of Columbia – Why D.C.’s Next Council Member Will Be Chosen by Lawmakers, Not Voters

MSN – Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 1/7/2026

The next new member of the District of Columbia Council will not be elected by voters but will instead be selected by the council itself, in a process that has already elicited frustration from some lawmakers. Councilperson Kenyan McDuffie resigned his seat to set up a mayoral run. City law says it is up to the council to select an interim replacement, but the law is vague on exactly how lawmakers should go about choosing their new colleague.

Hawaii – $35K Mystery Payment: Bill would extend time to prosecute

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 1/8/2026

Hawaii campaign finance regulators would be given more time to investigate the case of an unnamed lawmaker who accepted $35,000 in a paper bag from a man involved in a federal bribery investigation in 2022 under a proposal expected to go before lawmakers in the upcoming session. The U.S. attorney’s office has stated the transaction was not related to the bribery investigation. But it could still be a violation of state campaign spending law.

Indiana – Indiana Employers Face Yearlong Public Works Contract Ban Under Immigrant Work Eligibility Bill

Yahoo News – Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 1/8/2026

A bill to close so-called loopholes in Indiana’s employment eligibility verification law could bar employers who purposefully flout the requirements from taking part in public works projects for a year. Public work project contracts entered into or renewed after June 30 would have to include a provision requiring the primary contractor and all tiers of subcontractors to enroll in E-Verify, an internet-based federal program that cross-checks a new hire’s eligibility to work in the U.S.

Maryland – Ethics Complaint Clouds Opening of Howard Office Charged with Detecting Fraud, Waste

MSN – Kiersten Hacker (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 1/7/2026

Howard County’s new Office of the Inspector General was created to detect fraud, waste, and abuse, but an ethics complaint about the selection process for its leader has some county leaders questioning the new office’s own ethics. Others say the allegations are unfounded, or “silly and desperate.” The complaint involves the process of selecting Kelly Madigan and alleges a conflict-of-interest involving Steven Quisenberry, who worked with Madigan in Baltimore County and will now lead that county’s Office of the Inspector General.

Minnesota – Walz Drops Bid for Reelection as Minn. Governor While Klobuchar Considers Run

MSN – Hannah Knowles, Dan Merica, and Theodoric Meyer (Washington Post) | Published: 1/5/2026

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he is dropping his bid for reelection, a dramatic turn for the two-term governor who now faces scrutiny over welfare fraud investigations in his state. Walz was tapped as Kamala Harris’s running mate in 2024 and viewed as a potential presidential candidate in 2028. Democrats had grown increasingly worried about Walz’s choice to seek a third term as Republicans, including President Trump, put a spotlight on the growing fraud probe.

Minnesota – ICE Shooting Reinforces Minnesota’s Grim Role as Trump’s Public Enemy No. 1

MSN – Nicholas Riccardi and Steve Karnowski (Associated Press) | Published: 1/8/2026

Federal officers have encountered opposition in nearly all the cities targeted by President Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign. But it was in Minnesota that a 37-year-old woman was shot and killed by an immigration officer. Trump has focused on several blue states in his second term, and now he has turned to Minnesota, where the killing of George Floyd and the protests it sparked stained his first presidency.

New York – Judge Disqualifies US Attorney in Albany Investigating Letitia James

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck and Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 1/8/2026

A federal judge ruled President Trump’s acting U.S. attorney in Albany is unlawfully serving in his role and tossed subpoenas his office issued as part of an investigation into actions by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The judge concluded that John Sarcone III, appointed in March as interim U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, had served beyond the 120-day expiration date for that position and the administration’s efforts to keep him beyond that deadline did not withstand legal scrutiny. He is the fifth Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney who has been disqualified from serving in such a role.

North Carolina – Bob Phillips Retires from Common Cause NC, the Pro-Democracy Group He Helped Grow to Prominence

Yahoo News – Lynn Bonner (NC Newsline) | Published: 1/5/2026

For nearly a quarter century, when debates over voting laws, gerrymandering, or money in politics enveloped North Carolina, Bob Phillips has been in the thick of them. That era will end in January when Phillips retires from day-to-day advocacy work. As the leader of Common Cause North Carolina since 2001, Phillips has helped to shape anti-corruption laws and organize support for voting rights. He has worked with other groups to remove obstacles to voting and increase government transparency and try to overturn election districts they argued were unfair.

Ohio – FirstEnergy to Pay $275 Million to Ohio Customers Over HB 6 Corruption Scandal

MSN – Laura Hancock (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/7/2026

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved a settlement agreement to provide FirstEnergy customers $275 million in restitution after the company violated state laws in the passage of the House Bill 6, a controversial energy bill that was the largest corruption scheme in state history. Maureen Willis, agency director of the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, which represents utilities customers before the commission, said the settlement provides accountability.

Ohio – Larry Householder, Matt Borges Ask US Supreme Court to Review Cases at Heart of Their HB6 Convictions

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/5/2026

Imprisoned ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chairperson Matt Borges have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit two court rulings underpinning their corruption convictions in connection with the House Bill 6 bribery scandal. If successful, their requests would not only open the door to throwing out their convictions but rewrite decades-old legal precedent for what constitutes political bribery in America.

Tennessee – Judge Spares Tennessee Lawmaker Prison Time in Corruption Case Where Trump Pardoned Ex-Speaker, Aide

MSN – Jonathan Mattise (Associated Press) | Published: 1/5/2026

A federal judge reduced a prison sentence to probation for a former Tennessee lawmaker whose testimony helped convict the former state House speaker and his onetime aide of public corruption. Although her cohorts were pardoned by President Trump, ex-Rep. Robin Smith had been slated to report to prison for an eight-month sentence. But U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson reduced it to one year of probation.

Texas – 350 Texas Teachers Targeted for Posts About Charlie Kirk, Lawsuit Says

MSN – Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Washington Post) | Published: 1/6/2026

The Texas chapter of the country’s second-largest teachers union sued in federal court to block state education officials from investigating educators’ comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing last year, alleging they violated free speech protections. The lawsuit filed by the Texas American Federation of Teachers appears to be the first to challenge a state policy investigating complaints about teachers’ comments in the wake of Kirk’s shooting, in part because Texas and Florida state superintendents were the only ones to solicit such complaints.

Virginia – After Virginia Judges’ Misconduct Became Public, Lawmakers Reinstated Secrecy

Yahoo News – Ben Paviour (Virginia Mercury) | Published: 1/5/2026

At the end of every year, state agencies, boards, and commissions in Virginia churn out dozens of annual reports. Last year, one notable document was missing – the 2024 annual report from the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission (JIRC). The report for the first time contained the names and misdeeds of Virginia judges who were disciplined by the seven-member commission for violating the commonwealth’s judicial cannon. But a brief window of transparency shut last year, when lawmakers unanimously passed a bill specifying that they would be the first ones to see JIRC’s annual report and decide if it is ever made public.

Wisconsin – Judge Hannah Dugan Resigns from Court Weeks After Federal Jury Finds Her Guilty

MSN – Mary Spicuzza and John Diedrich (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 1/3/2026

In the face of an effort to impeach her and remove her from the bench, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan announced she is resigning. The announcement came weeks after a federal jury found Dugan guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents seeking to make an arrest outside her courtroom. Dugan was found not guilty of concealing a wanted person.

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